In an interview to The Indian Express, he said opinion was divided within the Congress on whether it should offer outside support to the AAP. “I think it was an unnecessary decision. No decision was called for. We had eight seats and were reduced to third place. We were neither voted to form the government nor voted to be the principal opposition party. So we should have just kept quiet,” he said, adding that this was his view.

He said the decision to support the AAP without any conditions was taken by the party’s local unit in Delhi. “Whether it was the right decision or otherwise, time will tell. But let me reiterate that opinion was divided within the party on whether we should offer outside support to AAP,” he said.

A day after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the government has started examining the 2010 Commonwealth Games files and action would be taken against corrupt officials and politicians, Chidambaram said, “Kejriwal has made hundreds of allegations against hundreds of people. If the Delhi government has material to take action against anyone — politician or a civil servant — they should simply take action. Why constantly speak about it.”

He said both former CM Sheila Dikshit and Delhi PCC chief Arvinder Singh Lovely had welcomed any action. “So why constantly harp on it. If there is material, take action,” he said.